Writer / Matt Keating
Photography Provided
Madison Niehaus, a senior at Westfield High School, has developed a love for photography that has helped her become a valuable part of the school’s yearbook staff.
She regularly takes photos of Westfield High School football games and many other school events.
“At first my photos just started off being for my own benefit, and for my friends that got the pictures,” Niehaus says. “I truly loved just taking photos. My only platform for pictures at the time was Instagram. I had never thought about doing football pictures, so I could get my senior-year photos in the student section.”
Niehaus was asked by one of her friends on the football team to take pictures at a scrimmage game, and she agreed to try something new.
“I had never shot football before,” Niehaus says. “Looking back at it, it was way more than a learning experience. It was truly one of my best experiences. I met another local photographer, David Dixon, a couple games into the season, and he has guided me and taught me many things that I am so thankful for.”
Niehaus says Dixon constantly gets her new exposure to different events, along with many learning opportunities.
“A couple weeks into the season, the yearbook and photography teacher had asked if I would share my pictures for the yearbook, and I agreed,” she says. “In return he let me use the school’s cameras. It was the best thing to ever happen to me.”
Niehaus adds that those cameras changed her whole experience, and gave her more opportunities than she could have ever imagined.
“I started having more of the school’s moms reach out and express their appreciation,” she says. “That made me love it even more. During the second trimester I joined the yearbook staff, which gave me even more experiences. Because of yearbook I have shot swimming, speech and debate. I also shot performing arts and everyday life. Every second I’m behind the lens is more learning for me. Recently a group of Westfield teachers, students and I have started a new platform called Rocks Media House, to make the community feel more inclusive when it comes to media and all of the opportunities it has to provide.”
Niehaus says she first developed an interest in photography during eighth grade.
“The Christmas of my eighth-grade year, my parents had bought me a nice camera because I had begged for one,” she says. “To no surprise, I used it for about a week and then forgot about it. My mom had then taken over the camera and started using it for my soccer games, and my interest then sparked again. I started taking it to all my friends’ sporting events, and sometimes even made them do tacky photo shoots for me. During the spring of 2021, the baseball season was when I really found my love for sports photography. My Instagram really started with the Westfield baseball season my junior year.”
Niehaus enjoys documenting school activities.
“Being an athlete, I love having pictures to look back on of me during my games,” Niehaus says. “It’s always the highlight of my day having a photographer at my games. That being said, I love being able to give that feeling to others. I love capturing the moments that people will be able to cherish for a lifetime. I truly enjoy the happiness students, parents and others receive from my photos. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to do such a small act to make such a large impact.”
Niehaus isn’t sure yet if she will pursue photography as a career.
“While what I’m majoring in doesn’t directly lead me to the photography business, I would love to be able to be a photographer in the NFL or MLB,” she says. “I have always loved sports growing up, and to be able to be around them daily would be a dream.”
Niehaus will attend Jacksonville University in Florida in the fall to play soccer.
“I plan on double-majoring in political science and Spanish,” Niehaus says. “I have already planned on contacting the other sports teams there about continuing my photography. I would love to be able to continue my passion throughout college, and make the same mark there as I did here in Westfield.”
Wherever she goes, Niehaus says she will always love Westfield.
“What I like best about Westfield is the community,” she says. “I moved to Westfield in the middle of the eighth grade and haven’t regretted it for a second. I was very apprehensive and nervous at first, but there is nowhere else that has ever felt more like home. Everyone around me constantly supports me and truly wants the best out of me.”
View Niehaus’s photography at instagram.com/mads.photography22.
Student Spotlight is sponsored by Wittler Orthodontics.
